Overview

Thyroid Disorders: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

What is the treatment?

The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that is present at the back of your neck and any dysfunction with this gland is known as a thyroid disorder. There are many different problems that can occur with your thyroid, which is why there are so many different conditions and ailments to consider. Therefore, there are multiple treatments for thyroid disorders, depending on the condition you are suffering from. These treatments range in their effectiveness and the recuperation period.

Thyroid disorders can be treated in many different ways, depending on the problem your gland is causing. For infections and diseases, your doctor may prescribe a range of antibiotics to help clear them up. Sometimes, your thyroid may develop a cyst on it. Though this cyst may be benign, it may cause issues like excessive weight gain if you are not careful. The cyst can be removed through surgery in order to treat it.

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are also common ailments connected to the thyroid. Both can dramatically alter your weight and the hormone production in your body. They can be treated with a range of medications that ultimately control your thyroid.

Thyroid cancer is another problem that occurs in the thyroid. It is treated with the help of chemotherapy and radiation, and even surgery if required. The treatment depends on how far the thyroid has spread in your system.

How is the treatment done?

The first step to treating any problem is first diagnosing it. With thyroid disorders, a blood test can reveal the amount of TSH and TRH levels in the blood. These indicate how well your thyroid gland is functioning and the hormones that it is releasing. Furthermore, an ultrasound may be needed to rule out any growths, cancerous or benign ones on the thyroid gland. In case an ultrasound is inconclusive, an MRI might be needed to gain a better picture of the problem. Based on the results of the tests and the symptoms and signs your body is showing, your doctor will then diagnose the problem and administer the right course of treatment.

Antibiotics are the first line of treatment when it comes to any infections or diseases that might be present in your thyroid gland. In case you are suffering from any pain, creams and ointments, along with pain relievers may also be included in the treatment plan. If the ultrasounds show a growth in the thyroid, your doctor will order a biopsy to rule out cancer. If the growth is benign, it can be removed with a simple surgery or laparoscopically.

If you have a cancerous growth in the thyroid, depending on how far its grown, chemotherapy, radiation, or removing the growth through surgery will be the line of treatment.

Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done?)

If you have begun to notice changes in your body or if your recent blood tests have shown abnormal levels of TSH or TRH, you should consult a medical professional and get treatment for any thyroid disorder you may be facing.

Who is not eligible for the treatment?

Sometimes, an underlying condition can mimic some of the tell-tale signs of thyroid disorders. If you have a health condition that could be causing symptoms, then treating your thyroid will not help.

Are there any side effects?

Thyroid disorders, as well as some of the treatments, can lead to drastic changes in your weight and energy levels. You may also notice changes in your body hair. Chemotherapy can lead to nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, and drowsiness. It can also lead to the loss of hair.

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

With thyroid disorders, monitoring and regulating your diet becomes extremely important. Your doctor will chart out the different food groups you should focus on consuming and the ones that you should stay away from.

How long does it take to recover?

The recovery period depends on the problem you have. Most infections can be cleared within a few days. Cancer can take months or even years to go into remission and can come back at any time. Some disorders are lifelong ailments and need to be managed through diet and medications.

What is the price of the treatment in India?

The price of chemotherapy can range from Rs. 57,000 – Rs. 60,000 per session.

Are the results of the treatment permanent?

Depending on the thyroid disorder that you have, the results can be permanent.

Popular Health Tips

Thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland is present at the lower frontal region of the neck, right beneath the voice box. It produces hormones which regulate metabolism (the breakdown of food by the body to convert it into energy). It even plays a pivotal role in boosting organ functions as well as in helping the body sustain heat. However, too much of hormone production by the thyroid gland might yield structural problems, for instance, growth of nodules (abnormal tissue growth) or cysts (non-cancerous sac-like structures containing fluid) and swelling. Hence, a thyroid surgery is a must once these problems occur. The surgery, administered with general anesthesia, eliminates the thyroid gland either wholly or partially.

Why is surgery required?

The presence of tumors or nodules on one’s thyroid gland is one of the reasons why one should go for the surgery. Although most of the nodules are benign, few can be pre-cancerous or cancerous too. Also, those benign nodules can spell trouble if they expand in size, thus obstructing the throat. They can be problematic as well if they cause the thyroid gland to overproduce hormones, giving rise to a condition known as hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism can be corrected through surgery. It is often an outcome of Grave’s disease, an autoimmune disorder wherein the body misidentifies the thyroid gland as a foreign body, thereby creating antibodies to combat it. The thyroid gland gets inflamed in the process, resulting in the overproduction of hormones.

Another reason is the enlargement or swelling up of the thyroid gland, termed as goiter. Similar to large nodules, goiter too can clog the throat, thus interfering with one’s breathing, speaking and eating.

Types of surgeries available

Lobectomy: This procedure calls for the partial removal of the lobes when a nodule or an inflammation affects just half of the thyroid gland.

Subtotal Thyroidectomy: Here, a small proportion of the thyroid tissue is left behind even after the elimination of the thyroid gland.

Total Thyroidectomy: Through this procedure, the entire thyroid gland is taken out along with the thyroid tissue.

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland placed just in front of the windpipe. Though the size of the gland is small, it performs a very important function in the body. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate metabolism and growth. Some of the most common types of problems that can affect the thyroid gland are:

Hyperthyroidism
This is marked by an overactive thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism can be caused by Graves’ disease, toxic adenomas, inflammation of the thyroid gland, a malfunctioning pituitary gland or cancerous growths in the thyroid gland. Treatment of this condition depends largely on the patient’s age, overall health and severity of the issue. It can take the form of radioactive iodine therapy or surgery. Beta blockers and other thyroid medication may also be used to treat this condition.

Hypothyroidism
This condition is marked by an underactive thyroid gland wherein the gland does not produce enough thyroxinehormone. It can lead to weight gain and make the person feel tired and depressed. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto’s disease. In this case, the body begins producing antibodies that destroy the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism can also be triggered by radiation to the neck, side effects of certain types of medication, thyroid surgery or an excess amount of iodine in the person’s diet. Hypothyroidism can be treated with medication but this medication usually needs to be taken for life.

Goitre
Goitre refers to a swelling of the thyroid gland. This can be caused by hyperthyroidism as well as hypothyroidism. It can also be caused by a lack of iodine or too much iodine in the patient’s diet. If the goitre is too small to cause discomfort, a wait and watch approach may be taken. Else, thyroid medication may be prescribed to treat the underlying condition.

Thyroid CancerCancer that originates in the thyroid gland is known as thyroid cancer. This is not a very common type of cancer. Its treatment depends largely on the patient’s age, overall health and stage of cancer. It is usually treated with surgery to partially or completely remove the thyroid gland or radiation therapy. In cases of aggressive cancer, chemotherapy may also be used. In case the thyroid gland needs to be completely removed, the patient will need to take hormone replacement drugs. They will also need vitamin D and calcium supplements.

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. This gland is responsible for regulating metabolism by releasing thyroid hormones. The underproduction or overproduction of these hormones could affect every aspect of an individual’s health. One of the minerals affected by the functioning of the thyroid gland is calcium.

Calcium is a very important mineral for the human body. It not only builds a strong skeletal structure but also helps with muscle contractions, blood clotting and regulates enzyme levels. The thyroid gland and the parathyroid gland are directly responsible for calcium regulation in the body. This is done through the calcitonin hormone. This hormone is released by the thyroid gland. Calcitonin helps regulate the calcium levels in the blood and keeps it from accumulating in the bloodstream.

Because of the important role played by calcium in our bodies, calcium supplements are the easiest way to maintain the calcium levels in the body. However, for patients suffering from hypothyroidism, this may not be a good idea. Calcium supplements can interfere with thyroid medication such as levothyroxine. Instead, calcium can be sourced from the food being eaten.

Milk is not the only food group that provides calcium to the body. Some of the other foods that you could get calcium from include:

Beans: All legumes are a great source of calcium. Of these, winged beans have the highest concentra5tion of calcium. One cup of winged beans can give the body up to 24% of its required amount of calcium.

Fish: Fish such as sardines and salmon are great sources of calcium. Between these two types of fish, sardines have more calcium. These can be eaten fresh or tinned.

Cheese: Parmesan cheese has the highest concentration of calcium. However, all other types of cheese contain calcium as well. As a rule of thumb, soft cheese has a lower amount of calcium as compared to hard cheese.

Seeds: Seeds are a powerhouse of nutrition. One of the minerals, these tiny seeds are rich in is calcium. one tablespoon of sesame seeds has 9% calcium while one tablespoon of poppy seeds has 13% calcium.

Yogurt: Yogurt is a rich source of probiotics and calcium. One cup of yogurt a day can give the body up to 30% of its calcium requirements. This includes full-fat yogurt as well as low-fat yogurt. Greek yogurt also contains calcium but in a lower concentration as compared to regular yogurt.

Irregular periods and menstrual cycle disturbances are common in almost 30% women due to several reasons, and thyroid disorders one among them. Most women may not realize that their menstrual cycle is closely related to the proper functioning of their thyroid gland. Any irregularities in your menstrual cycle might be caused due to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and knowing the symptoms will help you seek the help of an expert to treat the condition.

Severe premenstrual syndrome
Most women experience a premenstrual syndrome or PMS, a week or 10 days before their period starts. When the woman is suffering from thyroid disorders, this syndrome becomes severe. The common symptoms include bloating and fluid retention, tenderness in breasts, fatigues, insomnia, headaches, cramps, food cravings, tension, irritability, anxiety, depression, trouble in concentrating and many more. These symptoms are magnified when she is suffering from hypothyroidism.

Conditions that affect menstrual cycle

Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is caused when you have an underactive thyroid, and it is a common disorder of the endocrine system in which the thyroid gland fails to produce adequate thyroid hormone. Several menstrual irregularities are associated with hypothyroidism. They are:

Early menstruation: The average age of menarche or the first onset of a period is 12. But a girl suffering from hypothyroidism can experience menstruation as early as the age of 10.

Heavy menstrual periods: A woman can suffer from menorrhagia or heavy periods if she has hypothyroidism. Under this condition, the woman can experience heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding.

Frequent menstrual periods: Hypothyroidism causes periods to occur more frequently, mainly at a gap of 21 days instead of the usual 28-day cycle.

Longer menstrual periods: While a menstrual period lasts for an average of 5 days, hypothyroidism patients will have their periods lasting longer than 6 days.

Painful menstrual periods: Dysmenorrhea is the term used to describe painful menstrual periods. This includes backaches, menstrual cramps, headache, and stomachache along with other symptoms.

Hyperthyroidism: It is a condition caused due to the excessive production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. An undiagnosed and improperly managed hyperthyroidism can cause several menstrual irregularities, such as

Late menstruation: A female suffering from an untreated hyperthyroidism will experience her puberty at a late age of 15 or older compared to the average 12 years.

Lighter menstrual periods: The periods experienced by hyperthyroidism patients are lighter than the usual.

Short Menstrual periods: While the average time span of a period is 5 days, hyperthyroidism patients will have a period span of 3 days or lower.

Sporadic menstrual cycle: Hyperthyroidism patients suffer from oligomenorrhea, where they experience a strange and irregular menstrual cycle. The period may skip one or even two months and then resume again or come every 35 to 40 days.

When there is an irregularity in menstruation for more than 6 months, it becomes important to consult your physician to know the cause behind it and follow the appropriate treatment procedure. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

The thyroid is a small gland that controls metabolism and growth. Silent thyroiditis is a common autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland. It causes an inflammation of the thyroid gland and is characterized by mild symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. It is known as Silent thyroiditis because this condition is not painful in any way. Silent thyroiditis is also known as lymphocytic thyroiditis or subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis.The cause of this condition is unknown and hence it is not possible to prevent it. This is one of the least common disorders to affect the thyroid gland. However, middle aged women are at the highest risk of suffering from this condition. Other risk factors include a family history of thyroid disorders, certain autoimmune diseases, removal of the adrenal gland or treatment for cancer.

If you notice such symptoms, you must consult a doctor. To determine a silent thyroiditis diagnosis, a thorough physical examination and a few tests are required. The physical examination focuses on the size of the thyroid gland, heart rate and presence of tumors if any. A blood test will also be required to check thyroid hormone levels such as T3, T4 and TSH levels. Your doctor may also ask for an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and an imaging test to determine iodine radioactive uptake.

Silent thyroiditis has a good prognosis and patients usually recover within one year. The acute phase typically lasts only three months. Most patients do not require any form of treatment for this condition but regular checkups are advised to keep track of the disease. In rare cases, medical treatment may be required. For example, if the patient complains of increased heart palpitations or excessive sweating, beta blockers may be prescribed to lower the heart rate. The patient is advised to get plenty of rest and avoid any stressful situations.

In some cases, silent thyroiditis may lead to permanent hypothyroidism. In such cases, medication may be prescribed to normalize the thyroid hormone levels. In some cases, thyroid hormone replacement therapy may also be advised. Surgery and radioactive iodine treatment a not required to treat silent thyroiditis. However, even after the symptoms subside, a close follow up is required to check thyroid hormone levels. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Mr. lybrate-user, Thanks for the query.
I have seen the query, there is no mention of current or earlier TSH levels. It is necessary to know the exact levels, then only any comment can be made.
Please understand hypothyroidism is a hormone (Thyroxine) deficiency disorder. This hormone is necessary for day to day functioning of. A number of vital metabolic activities in the body. Plus for normal functioning of brain. So if your thyroid is not producing enough of it, then only option is to supplement it from outside. That is why the treatment is for lifetime. There is absolutely NO OTHER OPTION. If you don't want to take then it is your decision. Ayurveda or any other pathy has no treatment for it. Now the choice is entirely yours. Thank.

Hello, thanks for the query.
Hypothyroidism itself does lead to hair loss. It is essential to maintain TSH around 3 to 4 mU/L to be free from all the symptoms. Taking Normoz tablets has really no proven benefits, except spending a good deal of money. Thanks.

Mr. lybrate-user, Thanks for the query.
Usually when treatment is on for a number of years, there is a possibility of some increase in HbA1c%, mainly because you are on same drug for a long time. You have not mentioned recent Fasting & PP levels, those also do give an idea. There apears to be a need for either increasing the dosage or ading another compound for better control Thanks.

lybrate-user ji, Thanks for the query.
I am sure you are aware that Hypothyroidism is a hormone deficiency disease, where your thyroid is not producing adequate quantities of thyroxine or not at all. So in this situation, only remedy is to give supplement of that hormone on regular basis. Because this hormone is needed for a variety of important metabolic functions of the body and functioning of brain. The treatment is for Life Time.
TSH levels do not change on stopping the hormone for 2 or even 10 days. It takes over 4 weeks to get TSH level respond to stoppage or increase in the dose of Levothyroxine. Minor variation that is noticed is irrelevant. I hope you understand what I have said. Thanks.

Related Lab Tests

The thyroid gland, in the lower front of the neck, releases hormones in the bloodstream that affect almost every part of your body, from your brain and heart to your skin and muscles. It also controls metabolism which is the process of changing the food you eat into energy. When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, it is called hypothyroidism.

Thyroid Problem

Thyroid disorders are associated with the thyroid gland. A thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland situated right at the base of one s neck. The role of the thyroid gland is to carry out numerous metabolic processes within the body. The brain regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland through a feedback mechanism.

Myths Related To Thyroid Disease

Diagnosing thyroid problems is very challenging; symptoms are often vague and nonspecific, such as fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Hence its important that one should be clear about the few common myths associated with Thyroid.

Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy

Hello everyone, I am Dr Archana Prabhu. I am an Obstetrician and gynaecologist, practicing in MUmbai. Today I will like to discuss about Thyroid Problems.

What is Thyroid?

Thyroid is a small endrocrine gland situated in front of the sound box, in the middle of the neck.

Why is it so important?

The importance of thyroid gland is that it controls our metabolism. It controls the heart rate, skin thickness, texture. It controls our brain, mood, nervous systems, hair and so many other things are controlled by Thyroid. Any thing goes wrong with thyroid. If secretion becomes more, we call it as hyperthyroidism or if secretion become less, we call it as hypothyroidism. THere are problems, out of these problems, 75% of the problems are Hypothyroidism. THat means the secretion through thyroid glands are sub normal. So, I would like to discuss Hypothyroidism.

What happens in Hypothyroidism and how do we come to know that we are suffering from this problem?

Usual problems are;

Excessive weight gainSudden weight gainSwelling in the feet or legsDepressionIrritationLethargicConstipationDry skin problemHair lossDifficulty in conceoptionMenstrual issuesWhat happens when patient's thyroid levels are not under control or they are Hypothyroid during pregnancy?

In this case, th baby at its very early stage are exposed to the level of hypothyroidism. There are chances of abortion. In case the pregnancy continues, the baby may develop many complications like, at birth, this baby might be having growth issues i.e, growth retardation.

This baby may have jaundice.This baby may develop short stretcherPoor growthCardiac issuesThe very important part here is that mental development of the baby gets affacted by thyroid level. It has been seen when the baby is exposed to low secretion thyroid level in the early months, they develop mental retardation or low IQ.

I dont think that any of the mother would liek to have this kind of baby, that too because of the small thing which she could have checked and be treated and could easily escape from such a complications. Now, they are certain problems which can go really wrong with the mother also if she has hypothyroidism and the levels are not under control. LIke the blood pressure, she may get into preeclampsia. The mother who is suffering from Hypothyroidism are at risk of developing some kind of cardiac problems.

So, friends the important point here is to check thyroid level in your early month of pregnancy. There are levels which are T3, T4 and TSH. Check thema nd if they are shwoing any kind of abnormality, the tablet is started immediately. It is a very small tablet can be taken anytime empty stomach. Throughout the pregnnacy, every 4-6 weeks we have to keep checking thyroid levels and according to pregnancy month, the levels of thyroid are different for the three trimesters.

We have to keep the levels in that particular level. So the dose adjustment and regular checkup are really important. THis can control teh complications and can save the baby and the mother.

If you need any other information, you can contact me through Lybrate.

Thank you.

Thyroid Diseases During Pregnancy

Causes, symptoms and diagnosis of Thyroid

Hello friends. I am Dr. Surekha Jain practicing as a gynecologist and obstetrician since last 40 years. I own my own hospital at Shalimar Bagh with the name of Jain Child and Maternity Hopsital Pvt. Ltd. I am also attached with the Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh as a Senior Gynecologist and Obstetrician. Today, I am planning to tell you about Thyroid Diseases during Pregnancy. The reason for choosing this topic is that it is very common nowadays to find thyroid disease during pregnancy and the smallest variation in the thyroid organ can really affect your pregnancy. The thyroid disease is present in two forms: Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism means over active thyroid and Hypothyroidism means which is under active thyroid.

Thyroid is an organ which is located in the front of your organ like a butterfly and it releases hormones which control metabolism of your body it controls even single cell of your body. Thyroid affects the whole body. During pregnancy, why we are worried about the thyroid disease that if you already know that you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism at the very first consultation of your pregnancy, you should tell your obstetrician that you are either Hyperthyroid or hypothyroid and what drugs you are already taking. So that the doctor can help you adjust those medications. In case you do not know the status of your thyroid at very first visit the doctor will you investigations to be done and thyroid status is one of them.

Why is it so important to do early? Because the thyroid functions are more important in the first trimester of pregnancy to control the development of the baby. You very well know that during the very first three months of your pregnancy, the child being made, all the organs, all the systems are developed and after that the child only grows inside so the first three months are very crucial. And thyroid controls the activities in the mother and the baby. So, you should know the status of thyroid. Now, let us know what are the most important irregularities you can have in thyroid? Hyperthyroidism, even though it is rare, in early pregnancy signs and symptoms they quite mimic hyperthyroidism like excessive vomiting, nausea, irritability, giddiness and irregular heartbeat, even nervousness. So, these are very common in pregnancy as well as in hyperthyroidism.

So, if they are in a moderate amount, you can think of having these symptoms because of pregnancy. But, in case there is excessive, your doctor will definitely test you for hyperthyroid by doing certain blood tests and manage you accordingly on anti-thyroid drugs. The second most important is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism being more common than hyperthyroidism, therefore, it is very important to manage hypothyroidism in early pregnancy. In first, seven to nine weeks, the fetus doesn t have any thyroid function in itself. So whatever it is getting it is from the mother. If the mother is deficient, the child will also become deficient and later on it can have multiple problems of nervous system, skeletal system, and developmental problems. Now, how do you diagnose the thyroid disease? It is very simple. Only by blood test you can diagnose thyroid. Three blood tests are there, TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 and T4. These are the hormones which are released by thyroid and thyroid stimulating hormone is the controlling hormone which keeps adjusting itself according to the hormone. Only by test you can come to know whether you are youth thyroid that is normal thyroid or you are hypothyroid or hyperthyroid.

If thyroid is not controlled properly during pregnancy then there can be multiple things which can happen to the mother and the baby. Now, if it not controlled in the first trimester, then developmental problems can be there. Baby can have certain congenital birth defects but later on it can lead to prematurity, and high blood pressure. Now, how can you come to know you are suffering from symptoms only? Hyperthyroidism can lead to severe nausea, vomiting, and slight tremors in your body, trouble sleeping, weight loss, or low weight for pregnant women. How can you know about hypothyroidism? Symptoms of hypothyroidism are such as extreme tiredness, weight gain, confusion, constipation, concentration and memory problems.

So, once your doctor knows whether you are hypo or hyper, they will treat you accordingly. If you want to know more, you can contact me through Lybrate, Dr. Surekha Jain. I am a certified thyroid disease treatment giver to the patients so you can contact me by chat, telephone, by putting your questions directly to me through Lybrate. They know my telephone number, my address. You can contact me, come to me, you can chat with me and even have video chat with me. Thank you.